On Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 9:07 p.m. a deputy sheriff, along with a citizen volunteer, were on patrol traveling through the City of Barstow. The deputy saw a male subject jump a fence into the parking lot of the El Rancho Motel on Main Street and stopped to question him. During the contact, the subject gave the deputy a false name and became uncooperative. When the deputy attempted to handcuff the subject, he tried to run and almost immediately a fight ensued with the deputy and subject on the ground. The subject struck the deputy numerous times in the face and refused to comply with the repeated verbal commands to stop hitting him and move away. The deputy fired his weapon, striking the subject, at which time the assault ceased.

The deputy was transported to a local hospital and is being treated for multiple injuries, including broken bones.
The subject, later identified as Nathaniel Harris Pickett, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Barstow Police Department and Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators are conducting the investigation.